In the U.S. agricultural heartland, competition over land is intensifying. Farmers face rising input costs, volatile commodity prices, and pressure to maintain yields. Meanwhile, energy developers are seeking vast tracts of farmland for solar installations. In response, a growing body of research is turning to agrivoltaics: the co-location of solar photovoltaic arrays and agricultural production on the same land.

At the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, scientists are conducting field trials of sorghum and soybeans grown between and beneath solar panels at the university's Energy Farm. Professor Emeritus Bruce Branham, a lead researcher in the SCAPES program (Sustainably Colocating Agricultural and Photovoltaic Electricity Systems), questions the logic of removing high-quality farmland from production. "If we can find a way to get dual use out of the land, I think it becomes a much more attractive proposition," he said.

Agrivoltaics offers multiple benefits. Land that is ideal for agriculture also tends to have the right solar exposure. Combining crops with electricity generation could improve land-use efficiency, stabilize farm income, and provide climate resilience. According to recent data, test plots with cereals, forages, and root crops have reached land-use efficiencies of up to 130%, while corn plots have achieved 104%. In arid zones, solar panels may reduce soil evaporation, lower irrigation requirements, and protect plants from extreme heat.

But challenges remain, especially for row crops. The main issue is shading: solar panels block sunlight, and not all crops respond well. For example, a study in Italy found that soybean yields under solar arrays decreased by 8%, while the number of pods dropped 13%. Still, the same study showed soybeans adapted by altering leaf area and plant height to improve light capture. Meanwhile, corn showed only minimal yield loss under tracking panels that move with the sun.

Mechanical access is another obstacle. Large modern farm equipment struggles to maneuver between tightly spaced or low-hanging solar panels. Adjusting panel height or spacing adds to capital expenditures, and reduces the number of panels-and thus energy output-per acre. According to Purdue University researchers, agrivoltaic systems cost about 73% more to install than traditional solar farms. However, they also offer lower annual operating costs due to reduced mowing and land maintenance needs.

Different solar configurations are being evaluated. Fixed tilt panels are the cheapest but create permanent shade. Single-axis tracking panels, which tilt from east to west, allow plants more sun exposure at different times of day. Dual-axis panels, which follow the sun in two directions, maximize light capture but are the most expensive. The University of Illinois is using single-axis systems in its trials.

Economically, agrivoltaics could diversify farmer income. A Polish study found that AV plots produced 12 to 15 times more revenue per hectare than wheat alone. The combination of electricity sales and crop production spreads financial risk and buffers against commodity price swings. Since electricity prices are more stable than crop markets, the dual model could offer long-term resilience.

Importantly, agrivoltaics also addresses growing resistance in rural areas to solar farms replacing prime farmland. By demonstrating that agriculture and renewable energy can coexist, researchers hope to ease land-use conflicts and inform farm bill policy discussions. Tools and models from Purdue now allow simulation of different configurations, crop types, and panel layouts to optimize both crop yields and energy output.

With land pressures mounting and the need for clean energy rising, agrivoltaics may soon move from experimental plots to the commercial landscape. As Branham puts it, "If we get the same amount of energy and the same amount of corn out of an acre and a half by combining them, we've increased our efficiency by 50%. That's important because the land is valuable and there are people who farm who don't want to give it up completely."

Agrivoltaics could well represent the future of U.S. agriculture-where farms don't just grow food, but also harvest sunlight and build climate resilience